Summit County Veterans Day roundup

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Sunday is Veterans Day, and all over Summit County people are getting ready to honor the military personnel who provide such a great service to our nation. The students at Silverthorne Elementary stepped up early to put on lunch and an assembly for veterans Friday. Read on to find out about more ways veterans are being honored this weekend in Summit County.

Flag-raising ceremony

When: today at 8 a.m.

Where: Summit County Justice Center, 501 N. Park Ave., Breckenridge

Dinner

When: today at 6 p.m.

Where: Summit County Elk's Lodge 2561, 1321 Blue River Pkwy.,

Silverthorne

Contact: Mac at (970) 409-8310

In honor of the 237th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, the Summit County Justice Center will hold a flag-raising ceremony today at 8 a.m. The ceremony will include the Marine's prayer, national anthem, Marine Corps hymn, and a message from the commandant of the Marine Corps.

The tribute will continue at 6 p.m. with dinner and a cake ceremony at Summit County Elk's Lodge 2561. For those who may have missed it at the flag ceremony, the dinner will include the pledge of allegiance, the Marine Corps hymn, the Marine's Prayer and a message from the commandant of the Marine Corps. Veterans are encouraged to come and share any stories and experiences with attendees.

When: Today through Monday

Where: Keystone Resort

This weekend, Keystone Resort is showing its support of military veterans with special offers that include 33 percent off lodging, $59 lift tickets, 15 percent off ski school and spa products, as well as deals on resort activities and discounts at participating restaurants. All weekend, military servicemen and women will have the opportunity to purchase the 2012-2013 Military Liberty Season Pass, which grants active duty military personnel and their dependents unlimited, unrestricted skiing and riding at Keystone and Arapahoe Basin for only $209.

In additional celebration, free cupcakes will be handed out in River Run Village from 8:30 a.m. each morning at the base of the gondola. For those wishing to thank veterans for their service, Keystone Resort and AMil

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Savings for military servicemen and women at Keystone Resort will continue throughout the 2012/13 winter season with offers of 15 percent off all Keystone managed activities, ski school offerings, food and beverage and spa offerings, as well as 50 percent off of parking.

When: Sunday

Where: all Colorado State Parks

For those veterans hoping to take in a little nature and wildlife over the weekend, admission to all Colorado State Parks will be free for veterans on Sunday.

When: Sunday 9 -11 a.m.

Where: 310 Wellington Rd.,

Breckenridge

The theme of Sunday's service will be thanking and honoring all the U.S. military service veterans.

Frisco Elementary students will host a veterans appreciation event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Veterans are welcome into the classrooms to share their military experiences and views on patriotism. The veterans will be hosted for lunch, after which the entire school will gather in an assembly to honor those who have served in one of the nation's armed forces. If you are a veteran or know a veteran who would like to participate, please contact Sarah Holisky at (303) 322-3111 or Sarahk136@gmail.com.

Summit County's Rotary Club is taking donations for care packages for deployed soldiers. Typically the packages are sent every two months and include toiletries and high quality nutritional food.

The cost of compiling the packages is $57 with an additional $13 for shipping overseas, bringing the value of the packages to $70.

With troops coming back to the United States from Afghanistan, the Rotary Club of Summit County is re-focusing their efforts to offer new services to them when they return.

"We're in a bit of limbo at the moment with a lot of soldiers returning," Wickert said. "We're having to modify our program by focusing on helping to rehabilitate when they get back here, physically and mentally."

The need for care packages will pick up with the holiday season nearing, as it does year after year.

"The holidays can be a challenging time for our soldiers away from home," Wickert said. "They need to know that everyone back home is thinking about them and the care packages are a great way to reach out whether you have a family member, friend or don't know anyone serving overseas."

The Rotary Club is currently looking for soldiers to send care packages to. The Rotary troop support program is seeking information from residents for recipients of packages.

The community can make monetary or package donations by sending them to the Rotary Club of Summit County Troop support program, P.O. Box 4401 Frisco, CO 80443.

Who: Tom Byledbal

Contact: (970) 668-5360 x13

Where: Frisco Workforce Center, 602 Galena St., Frisco

When: Every Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to noon

Appointments recommended

Tom Byledbal is the Veterans Services officer for the nearly 1,600 veterans currently living in Summit County. As the first point of contact for veterans with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, he works jointly for both the state and county, acting as an advocate for local veterans. A veteran himself, Byledbal helps other veterans with filing requests, such as for service-connected compensation, pension and health care benefits, and with the beginnings of the appeal process if anything is denied. All of these services are free.